New Octavia ....when? How Much?

[Buzy_Robot]

The sales figures for Skoda quoted by Brenno in this thread have me thinking there's a certain charm in being a niche brand, but also drawbacks. I would suggest though that the real impact of any progress Skoda might make in terms of market presence and sales in Australia can only be fully gauged in a year or so when they have updated their entire lineup. Octavia is a great car and I would have no problem going from my MY13 Passat to an RS variant, but medium size cars are not the biggest selling segment, rather small cars and SUVs command significant market share. That's where Skoda need to focus their energies moving forward to gain greater and continued traction in the marketplace. To be sure, the new Octavia offers something different and enticing in the medium car segment, but that has to be the same for their entire range of Skoda vehicles.

VFACTS for March 2014 places Skoda at a rather modest 25th position overall. I can see them doing better, but realistically, I don't see them ever getting into the Top 20. Firstly, VAG don't want Skoda to cannibalise sales from the parent company. Secondly, limited advertising on SBS, in car magazines and avid discussion via online forums only go so far and don't really reach the average car punter. Thirdly, a small dealer network does not inspire buyer confidence in both sales and after sales support. I read somewhere Audi will be investing in setting up a massive new dealership in Doncaster. Can't see something like this happening with Skoda in Australia at all. Fourthly, long wait times of five or six months tends to drive people towards other brands. No matter how much value for money Skoda represents, people trading in their vehicles are not going to agree to lose more money on their existing trade-in (unless stipulated otherwise in the sales contract) just to own a Skoda. Why wait that long if you could get another fine car in the same segment like a Mazda6, for example, in half the time and with a far wider and stronger dealer network and arguably better resale value?

It would also help if there were more independent mechanics and service centres publicly acknowledging their support for Skoda cars. I notice both VolksAffair and Richmond Motors here in Melbourne openly advertise servicing for Audi and Volkswagen on their websites, but absolutely no mention of Skoda. Why? Is this their choice or have VAG decided to limit servicing exclusively to Skoda dealerships and thus curtail the brands growth?

Personally, it's a great shame when a brand with as much potential as Skoda hasn't really progressed much in Australia after being here for 7 years. I can see them staying, consolidating and making a bit more progress, but these days even that's a major achievement given the highly fractured and competitive nature of the Australian car market.

[brad]

As one of the longest term owners (6yrs in July) here it makes me laugh to see peoples ideas on how to "fix" Skoda.

Small cars? Sure Fabia has set the world on fire. Roomster - LOL

SUVs? Yeti - everyone goes & buys the Tiguan.

Octavia Mk2 is a small car - it's just a Golf with a big bum. So many people complained that it was too small in the rear. So they went half a size bigger & now it's too big.

Superb - It's too big, too expensive, underappointed except when it's too small, over-appointed & too cheap.

Sales haven't changed dramatically in 7 years. They have hovered around spot 25 all that time & been beaten by some real dogs.

We all blamed it on Matt Weisner but he left & is kicking goals with Fiat & Skoda hasn't changed.

Aussie buyers are basically conservative and they are the biggest problem for Skoda. They'd rather buy a VW or a toyota.

[Bob51]

It would be worthwhile for Skoda to research why people buy their cars. In my case I wanted a medium sized wagon with a diesel engine and manual transmission. There was only two on the market - Subaru Liberty/Outback and Octavia. I chose the latter and have not regretted it. But now Skoda has removed the manual option from Octavia so I will have to look elsewhere for my next car.

But why did they do this? If I'm prepared to wait for a special order, why can't I have a manual gearbox and for that matter, a green or yellow car which the factory makes? Skoda Australia is trying to carve out a market but does not want to differentiate itself from other manufacturers. The same dull bland colour range and no ability to have manual gearboxes. Skoda has removed the reason for me to buy their cars.

Incidentally, it seems the Rapid has dropped off the plans for Australia.

[zei20t]

The rapid hasn't dropped off. AFAIK it will be launched later this year.

[dArK5HaD0w]

Skoda Australia is trying to carve out a market but does not want to differentiate itself from other manufacturers. The same dull bland colour range and no ability to have manual gearboxes. Skoda has removed the reason for me to buy their cars.

correction - VW Australia is NOT trying to carve out a market for Skoda Australia and does not want to differentiate it from other manufacturers."
VW Australia, from day 1, have dictated every choice/strategy/marketing/models/options for Skoda Australia. Even the Skoda Aus website is maintained and managed by VW Aus.
As long as this is the case, Skoda Aus will remain where it is in the sales ladder.
Even if more customers want skoda, vw aus won't let that avenue flourish, so their strategy is to make potential skoda customers wait 3-6 months for an order - and by doing so, customers will go elsewhere.....like a vw showroom.

hence why you won't see Skoda given the ability to research the market here in Australia.

[zei20t]

I think things are changing with Skoda here. the fact some of us were given loaner octavias is a good sign.

VGA no longer maintain the website and other media resources. its outsourced. skoda also have their own marketing team. its small, but so is skoda out here.

I really REALLY hope the changes are going to make a difference.

[Bob51]

The rapid hasn't dropped off. AFAIK it will be launched later this year.

You may be right but this recent article has no mention of Rapid in the forward model plans

Skoda Octavia - Skoda eyes modest sales boost | GoAuto

[K1W1]

We all blamed it on Matt Weisner but he left & is kicking goals with Fiat & Skoda hasn't changed.

I believe he lasted 30 days at Fiat. He is certainly no longer there and is now doing what all otherwise unemployed professionals do - runing a "consulting" company.

[K1W1]

Octavia Mk2 is a small car - it's just a Golf with a big bum.

We know it's a Golf but park a Golf next to an Octavia and to most people the Octavia is a way bigger vehicle.

IMO Skoda Australia's two major problems are the Fabia and supply.

The Fabia is the most god awful ugly vehicle ever to grace the small hatchback class and it simply doesn't appeal to buyers in that category even at the low discounted prices Skoda try to sell it for. When people in that class have the choice of i20 or i30 Hyundais, Polos, Mazda 2, Toyota Yaris or Ford Focus to name a few who would pick a Fabia over any of those on looks?

Supply is rubbish and always has been. When you can go into Mazda, VW, Toyota or Hyundai dealerships and purchase a new vehicle and often have delivery within days why would any buyer in the most competitive class of vehicles wait up to four months for something that is not substantially better? Sure enthusiasts will but Mum and Dad family car buyer simply will not. Even at the enthusiast level you can get a Golf R way quicker than you can buy a vRS and a vRS is really only a GTI which are pretty well available for immediate delivery if you are not pedantic about colours and options.

[DoggieHowser]

I honestly think the problems with Skoda go beyond VW Australia holding the reins.

I think there's just the way some head honchos at the parent group think about market segmentation.

There's just something very retro about the Skoda front grille that is merely tempered a little with the new Octavia RS Mk3 but it's not honestly a beautiful car from the front. The rear? Yes. In most respects, it's like an Audi A4 Avant but with braces in the front to make it look uglier than the Audi cousins.

The only thing in the Octavia's favour is that it looks miles better than the Golf Wagon - which looks like lazy design - stretch the bum out - DONE.



*great now I've pissed off both VW and Skoda owners